Young innovators emerge from Surat, Mumbai and Lobhi village who were awarded for their unique ideas which can bring about a significant difference to the current ecosystem.

Being part of the ‘Innovation decade’ where innovation found its way to the policy lexicon, the significance of innovation has never been so high in India ever before. 3M has instituted Young Innovators Challenge in 2014 in collaboration with Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) to create a forum to recognise innovative ideas with social relevance.  

The challenge this year looked for disruptive innovations that could create a better India in the areas of health, education, livelihood, environment, art & culture, governance or inclusive development. Over 300 entries were received this year from across the country, out of which 62 top entries were selected by experts from development and technical sector. The shortlisted 15 best ideas were to pitch their innovation to an independent jury, based on which six winners were selected.

Congratulating the winners and highlighting the need to innovate, Debarati Sen, Managing Director, 3M India, commented, “We are completely conscious of the relevance of innovation and IP in the current economic scenario where the mega trends need a catalyst to give it the impetus to move ahead. A great idea which brings about a huge difference to the society can emerge from anywhere in the world and thus we believe it is to be identified, nurtured and fuelled well. We strongly believe platforms such as 3M-CII Innovators Challenge will offer an opportunity and level-playing field for young minds to present their ideas amidst people who can support them to execute it.”  She also added, “My heartiest congratulations to all the winners and we look forward to many more of such innovators to come forward.The Challenge has grown to be the league of young changemakers and selecting winners each year is becoming tougher due to such bright ideas participating.”

The award offers a level-playing field to young innovators from across the country right upto the grassroots. Being the 4th year, today, it announced the winners for the year 2017 at the CII India Innovation Summit in Bangalore. 

WINNING PROJECTS UNDER TECH-INNOVATION CATEGORY:

Winner

Project Title: Greenvillips Vintage

Participant(s): Venus Mohan Chaudhary, ICAR CIRCOT. Mumbai

Team Member(s): Chetan Dilip Pawar, Accutest Biologics Pvt. Ltd.; Pooja Sunil Sainkar, Lupin Pharma, Pune

Idea Summary: The innovation deals with utilizing industrial waste (crude glycerol) for production of Nanocellulose and its aerogels, for air purification technology.

Runner-up

Project Title: USR: Point of Care testing device for rapid diagnostics tests focusing on Chronic Diseases and Nutrition.

Participant (s):  Zeeshan Anjum,  Malhar Khakharia & Avinash Suresh Joshi from CareNX Innovations Pvt. Ltd.

Idea Summary: Universal Strip Reader (USR) is a smartphone-assisted Point of Care diagnostic and screening device. It facilitates multiple diagnostic and screening tests with a single device within minutes at half of the current cost.

WINNING PROJECTS UNDER DISRUPTIVE SERVICE CATEGORY:-

Winner

Project Title: Khetmajoor- Ecosystem for culture tourism

Participant Name: Chintan M Patel, Symbiosis Centre For Management and Human Resource Management

Idea Summary: The Primary objective of this startup is to promote exotic rural tourism in India by incorporating attraction and adventure around nature and Indian farming community. Exotic factor aims to include rural tourism, farm stays, health tourism, sports tourism, jungle/hills stay, roadside/riverside stays, heritage tourism etc.

Runner-up

Project Title: Starting up a spice marketing enterprise in a village

Participant Name: Ayush Sinha from SBI Youth for India Fellowship

Idea Summary: 6 women belonging to the Halpati tribal community (a marginalized tribal group) living in Karachka - a remote village of Surat district - have started a spice making and marketing enterprise which is up and running since 15 months.

WINNING PROJECTS UNDER TRANSFORMATIVE INNOVATION CATEGORY:-

Winner

Project Title: Mimaansa's Remedial education & mental health program in Municipal Schools for Learning Disabled

Participant (s): Poojaa Joshi Samant, Sweta Chatterjee & Shilpaa Chogle from Mimaansa

Idea Summary: Mimaansa works towards capacity building of municipal schools to better accommodate students with LD in the mainstream classroom, i.e. inclusive education. Program includes early detection and remediation for students with LD along with Art Based Counseling Program for students and Teacher Training Program for municipal school teachers.

Runner-up

Project Title: dHive: Rural Innovation Studio

Participant Name: Krishna Thiruvengadami from SBI Youth for India Fellowship

Idea Summary: Project dHive- Rural Innovation studio enables rural children and youth in developing appropriate technologies using locally available resources. The studio, located in a tribal village Lobhi of Maharashtra, is a platform where local issues are solved locally, by inculcating design thinking and problem solving skills through a participatory approach.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Students from a school in Bangalore was also recognised for their idea.

PROJECT: emPOWER

Students who had deviced the project emPOWER aims at teaching English to the female support staff members in schools. The teaching material is sourced from Step Up For India, an esteemed organisation working towards education of children. “We have a carefully devised program where in students teach the support staff in their free periods.” A class is approximately 40 minutes long and is conducted by two students and includes 4 support staff members. This project enables our support staff to have effective communication in daily life and boosts their morale.